Nest Cam on the Cheap: rPi Cam

rPi SpyCam

This idea is not original. Although I did think of it independently, I also researched it on the interwebs to see if I was the only one.  Thankfully, I am not, but that doesn't mean that the idea is any less a Mad Tech Idea.  (link)

There are literally dozens of manufacturers that make both analogue and digital cameras for monitoring.  A major player in that game is Nest for the recent acquisition DropCam.  The Dropcam is small, light, and easy to setup.  But it's a bit pricey at $200 and to boot it's nothing more than Network / IP Cam.   Granted it does have a pretty nice cloud infrastructure to support the video feed. But that feed is closed and it is not easy to hack a Nest Cam for your own purposes.

A Raspberry Pi based camera could offer a great deal more features and add-ons.  Although it would take up more room than a Nest Cam, it would offer more capacity for the user to manage if not make changes to the device.

One of the gripes that is commonly chatted in the forums for Nest is a problem with control of Night Vision.  If a user mounts a Nest Cam on the inside of a window, to view the outside, at night the Night Vision (infrared LEDs) reflects back to the camera from the window.  Although the LEDs can be turned off, the Night Vision is also turned off (without the LEDs).

The rPi Cam could have all sorts of applications applied to it.  The previously mentioned control of Night Vision is just one.  Another idea could include Internet of Things control where Zigbee or Zwave devices could have a connection to the rPi Cam for sensory inputs.  Or the Cam could be controlled by the IoT.   And yet another could be that rather than powered by land-based power, the rPi Cam could use batteries, or even solar.

Ideally, these inclusions would be Open Source Hardware add-ons, collected into categories like that of AdaFruit rPi add-ons.  Pre-build or designed so that they are easy to connect / install.  Adaptability is the key to advancement.  Now to build my empire from Pi!

Source: MakeZine

Smartphone Camera External Lens Standard

In recent years, we've seen some fairly impressive changes in the Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) market.  The micro four thirds system has allowed the physical size of digital cameras to be reduced.  Digital cameras have flourished in the modern era, but smartphones have taken center stage as they include a camera and mobility. Yet the of idea combining the use of a smartphone camera with a digital external lens may make, at least amateur, photography a new renaissance.

Currently smartphone cameras have no standard placement on the backs (and fronts) of the smartphone chassis.  Although the Apple iPhone does often remain in the same location, since the size and shape of the device changes, it does not lend itself to a standard.  Of course the smartphone manufacturer would also like to be able to distinguish itself from others and not leave the user out in the cold with junk hardware.  But if a standard could be developed, all cameras could have an impressive added feature.

For now with the odd locations and specs of smartphone cameras there does not seem to be a simple way to adapt the smartphone to an external camera.   This may be solved in a number of ways.

1. A thin space around the surface circumference of the lens could be modeled to have a slot lock to secure an external add-on
2. The external lens could operate independently of the smartphone camera.  It could rather be a completely separate device that is merely connecting to the smartphone via Bluetooth or WiFi.
3. A new standard wireless interface for external lenses could be added to smartphones. 
4. All smartphone manufacturers could coordinate to put their cameras in the same location on the device (highly unlikely).

Sony has been rumored to have come the closest to this ideal, running with number (2) in the list.  Hopefully, we may soon see this idea take shape.  According to SonyAlphaRumors.com the Sony DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100 may have built-in camera sensors, Bionz processor, WiFi, NFC, and an extra SD-card slot.  This would allow the phone to do the photo processing, storage and possibly transmission. We may expect to see these idea appear in early September 2013.

Although the Sony QX series may not fit an actual standard, it's at least a step in the right direction.